Journal assembly for axle or shaft bearings



-May 5, 1942. o. H. BRAul-:R

JOURNAL ASSEMBLY FOR AXLE OR SHAFT BEARINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July51, 1940 FIC-3.1.

FIG.3.

INVENTOR.

OTTO. H. BRAUER @tu m,

. ATTORNEY.

Y m E May 5, 1942 o. H. BRAUER l 2,282,161

JOURNAL ASSEMBLY FOR AXLE OR SHAFT BEARINGS I Filed July 3l, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. OTTO H. BRAUER ATTORNEY.

Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED STATES. PATENT '-,oFElcE 2,282,161 JOURNALASSEMBLY Fon AXLE on SHAFT l BEARINGS Otto H. Brauer, Three Rivers,Mich., assigner to Co., Chicago, Ill., acor- .f

Fairbanks, Morse &

poration of Illinois Application July 31, 1940, serial No. 348,122 sclaims. (c1. sos-.1am

This invention relates to improvements in journal assemblies for axle orshaft bearings. and more particularly to an improved resilient journalconstruction and combination' with a bearing box or the like for use onvehicles, the present design having been evolved particularly for use onmotor-driven railway inspection cars' and similar light rollingequipment.

The lighter railway rolling stock such as railway motor cars, inspectioncars and the like, have heretofore been characterized principally byrelatively simple and rigid types of axle box and journal assemblies,through which the axle is mounted beneath the frame of the car. Suchassemblies have, for the most part, contained no shocks to the carframe, y cident'to quickstarts and `'stops of thefvehiclef and at thelsame time providing 'afpositiveiimit afforded bythemountnoteworthy-provision for cushioningthe bodyA of the car withrespect to the axle, and in the event of slight axle misalignment, theresulting damage entails considerable service expense.

Such older types of journal assemblies are,

moreover,v noisy and subject the bearing surfaces of the journal andshaft to severe wear incident to braking stresses and the like.

'Ihe foregoing and numerous other prevalent difliculties are largelyovercome Y`by use of the arrangements to be described, and the elimina-Yet another objectof the invention i's attained in a greater ease ofremoval and replacement 0f the axle or shaft than is possible with otherjournalling provisions adapted for use in comparable fields of service.

A still further object is attained. in an assembly for the purposes andhaving the advantages noted, and which may be produced in great partfrom fabricated sheet steel, involving only Aa.'

no more than two single casting,l and requiring resilient elements foreach journal assembly.

A still further object is attained in a novel, structurally simpleprovision for increasing the resilience and cushioning effect of ailoating journal assemlbly, responsive to a relativelyl heavier loading1oi' the vehicle.-

there may vbe additionally noted j and improved design or resilientcushion. element foruse linl a Ajournal and bearing box assembly which,vbesides providing a iull--iloatingl journal'a'ssernbly, exhibits animprovedK silencing effect due to damped vibrations otherwise l .y jA

of the chassis, 'andi l v transmitted Vbetween .the rolling elementslthe frame and body structure thereon'.

A stm further object is attained mja' hotel' arrangement, inavresiliently iioatefcl Journal assembly. of means for yieldablyfresistin'g'"theL to theextent of resilience n I ing in a direction foreandaft-oi'the"vehicle.-f= Y The general objective of. Athe novelfeatures embodiedin the present disclosure, may be stated as theattainment of a marked simplicity of'design, together with lowcostandlgw servicing connection expense, particularly when used in withlight railway rolling stock.'

The `foregoing and numerous other ,objects will more clearly appear fromthe followi'ngfdetailed description of a presently preferred embodimentof the invention, considered in connectionfwith the accompanyingdrawings, in whicht Fig. l is a side elevationr of a bearing assemblyembodying the `principles ci the present invention, certain parts beingbroken away for clearness of illustration; Fig`.,2 4isaverticalsectional elevation taken yalong line'v -2---2` i of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is asection in a horizontal plane.

through a portion of the housing'structure 'and r certain of thecushioning elements, and'showing `the journal in top elevation, the'suectionalporsomewhat related te the foregoing. @mm1-.5,55

tions being shown as viewed along line "of in perspective of thejournalhousing; Fig. 5 is an l v spective of an upper Vresilient or. cushioning:elc Y perspectivebi a Fig. 1; Fig'. 4 is an elevation elevationin per-Ament; Fig. 6'is an elevation in preferred formi of journal; Figs. I andv8 ar cute and` inner-elevational views, respectivelmfo wth twofjournalclosure plates; Fig.'l 9l is`,fane leva tio in perspective 0f a reboundcushionforpadf... of resilient material, and Fig. I

in perspective of a bottom closure'elei'n'ent-x-f retention of thejournal and cushioningmembersf v f iff-ar; y.

ranged substantially to indicate an. exploded viwg j assembly,exclusive' of,

in the housing, Figs. 4 through 10 of the several partsA of the the axleand bearings proper. y

Referring now by characters of reference tothe drawings, the body orhousing for theas'sembly. 5 I

means'for attachment thereofl n i .and providing a normally occurring"in:

journal box and'- Ibeing formed to provide a central and uppermostbridging portion 2|, laterally depending from which are the two sideelements or flanges 22. Medially of, and in longitudinal alignment withthe bridge portion 2|, are provided a series of openings 23 for thereception of bolts for the Asecurement of the bearing housing to thelcar sill or` the like. If desired for lightness, without appreciablesacrifice of strength, a number` of' 2,282,161 to thel sills or frame ofthe vehicle, is indicated openings 24 may be provided in the sideflanges 22 of the body or housing 2li.

For the purpose oi providing a receptacle or pocket for the reception ofthe journal proper and immediately associated parts, the side flanges 22vof the journal holder or housing are each cut away to form anopen-bottom, substantially rec- 4tangular journal aperture 25, and neartheir lowermost margins the ange members 22 are apertured as at 26 forthe reception of `holding bolts 21, the latter serving to keep inassembly a "bottom closure plate 26. There are preferably vprovided fourof the bolts 21, each of course carryinga nut and preferably a lockwasher or the like. The bottom closure member 28 of the axle box orhousing, preferably consists of a short length of an inverted channelmember provided near each of its four corners with an opening 30 for thereception of the assembly bolts 21 above described. As a furtherpreference the channel member 26 is further provided with a relativelylarge central opening 3|, thro'ugh which, in service, projects a greasefitting or the like 32. Similarly, a series of staggered openings 33 areprovided in the base or connecting portion of the member 28,- it laterappearing that one -of the journal cushioning elements is directlycarried by the member 26 and the provision of the openings 33, aselsewhere in the assembly, permits the rubber or rubber-like material ofsuch cushioning element to flow to a certain extent and thus enhance itsresilient properties.

The'assembly of the bearing housing or journal holder 2|) furtherincludes a pair of spaced, vertical web members or partitions whichassist in defining the journal pocketfand in offering lateral restraintto one of the resilient or cushioning elements hereinafter described.These vertical web members are indicated at 34, and for ease infabrication, each thereof is of channel form and of an outside widthjustsumcient to bridge the flanges 22 of the member 26, the flanges ofthe vertical web members 34 being Welded to the interior'surface oftheside elements 22 of the bearl ing housing structure.

Referring now-to a presently preferred form of journal and immediatelyappurtenant parts, the assembly aslshown is adapted for a double `rollerbearing assembly of a type adapted to resist thrusts imposed in eitherdirection on the axle, the inner races of the bearings being fitted tothe shaft, and the outer races of which are carried within what is forconvenience referred to as the journal proper, 36. The bearing assemblyper se, may be of standard type, and forming no part of the presentinvention, requires no detailed description. The journal, for rigidityand durability, may consist of a malleable casting,or be otherwisesuitably formed, and is preferably of a roughly rectangular outline,provided with a central race-receiving opening 31 and cornered screw orbolt apertures 40 for the reception of cap screws or bolts 4|, thelatter serving to, retain in assembly, a front journal cover 42 and arear journal cover 43, the covers being provided with. central openings44 to pass the shaft or axle, and with corner 'openings 45 for thereception of the bolts 4|. An annular, outwardly projecting portion 50is preferably provided on each of the plates 42 and g43 for betteraccommodation-and endwise positioning of the roller bearing assembly orthe like, within the journal.

Above briefly referred to is a rebound or recoil pad or cushion, whichconsists of a relatively thin strip of a suitable rubber or rubber-likestock or compound indicated generally at 5|, and which is preferablyonly partly co-extensive in length,

with the lower closure plate 26 for the journal housing. The reboundcushion, similarly to other cushioning members later described, isformed of a rubber or rubber-like material or compound capable ofresisting high compression, and may consist of any of a number ofv knowncompounded rubber stocks such as those used for example, inv

motor and engine supports, or if desired, may be formed of any of theso-called synthetic rubbers o or compounded stocks thereof.

Thepurpose of this strip of resilient material is indicated by referenceto itas a rebound cushion, since it serves primarily in resisting recoilaction rather than cushioning the load of the car on the axle.

Embracing the journal substantially over its remaining periphery, is aspecially formed cushion element which is of generally inverted U-form`-and comprises a horizontal bridge piece 60, with which is integrallyformed a pairof vertical leg members 55 and 56, sometimes hereinafterreferred to ascolumns. The U-shaped cushioning member may be of a moldedstock, and it is preferred at the time of molding to form in they bridge60, a plurality of recesses, say of partly circular-form as shown on oneside at 6|, and similarly on the opposite surface of the bridge 60, toform a series of such recesses 62, it being noted that the relievedportions 6I are Jstaggered laterally with respect to those designated at62, with the result that a line through the connecting neck portionsbetween the recessed parts, is of somewhat sinuous form. The purpose ofthe various relieved portions such as 6| and 62, and others to be4described, is to permit the resilient stock of the cushion element, toow or to strain itself in local zones subjected to high loading, wherebyto enhance its resilience. A similar purpose is served by the provision,preferablyfbut not necessarily, of an angulate indent or channel 63extending longitudinally of the top surface of the bridge piece 60.Although it is ordinarily sufficient to utilize only one of the U-shapedcushion structures, per channel and bearing box assembly,

jecting ears or seat-forming projections 6,4. It

is a preference that in assembly and in design of the resilient cushionstructure 55, 56, 6|), the bridge piece 60 be of sufilcient depth sothat under conditions of light loading, say of a vehicle, the columns 55and 56 are fr ee of compressive engagement with the seats 64, prefer- 4ably muy eieer thereof, es appears in Fig.

and engage the seats M on the journal and so then augment the cushioningeifect of the bridge Il. 'Ihe deflection or spread of the bridge piece.6l is greatly enhanced by the provision of the groove I3 along the uppersurface portion of the bridge and it is also desirable, for reasonslater appearing. to provide similar grooves` I5 in the outside surfacesof, and extending along each of th'e vertical legs or columns Il and It.

The assembly and flmction of the several scope of the= parts heretoforedescribed are thought to have been fully apparent from the vforegoingdelineation of structure, but it may be noted .that, with the bearinghousing mllyfabricated, and with its lower closure element removed, yandthe e JournalV and roller the closure plates 42 and the two side facesof the shaft 'or axle extending Il of the cover plates. cushion elementis which it forms an embrasure andvtogetlier wi the recoil pad orcushion substantially completee ly encloses the journal in the rubber`or like re-l silient material, it beingnotedfthat the columns 55' and5i are assembled to lie seats I4 therefor, on the journal 2l, Theassembly thus far is now moved inwardly openings o1' the flanges 22 ofbearinghousing 2l, following which the bottom.

I3 are securedv over :Iournal 2i races assembled to the shaft, 25

of the side 1 erally engaging -the saddled over the Journal f` r 39ranged in .bridging relation closure plate 2l is brought upwardly intoposition with `the grease 4 0 fitting 32 extending throughftheopening'inth'e .'sidesoi the `chimnelbody to" constitute a' Isubreboundpad Vand the opening in plate Stantally rec ngular Journal-receivingpocket, a 2l. Insertion of, and threadingfup of nuts on, tolted'bottomclosure `for the bearing. housing, bolts 21 complete thisassemblxthereverse order.'A y1'01' retention of the journal therein, andan'inof whmh of cgurseemblega-ready dismantling sertotcompressiblematerial formed, so as subof the assembly. for removaloftne-mes for'serv- Stentially to Slmound-the journal. and conned. icing thereof or ofparts ofthebearingassembly; f by. saidweb members and closure.

It wmbenoted that the U-shaped cushion ele- 3.- In-a bearing housingfand shaft journal asments are partly laterally confined by the flangesSembly including al bearing hOusing and a `jour- 22 and partly by thejam-nal closure plates l2 and -nal relatively loosely iltted therein, apair of col-.- In a direction endwisebf the vehic1e, the umns ofresilient material disposed on opposite U-shaped cushions are confinedby the web memsides of the journal and arranged in the housing bers 24in a fore and aft direction, from whichit ,to receive loading stressesAin lateral directions now becomes apparent that gnyrminormisalignthereof and normal to the axis of a shaft in the ment of theax1e,'ratl 1'ergdamage the bearing, will nierely serve to thejournalslightly against the resilience pear that in normal loading o f thevehicle, if

iight, the budge piece function. directly 1 vof, the' cushion members inth'e bearingv hcilugngV 22.*/ It vwill .further ap# 0 the like, abearing housing,

y upper portion of the journ vehicle to cushion the usual shocks, thecolumn I members lmder such conditions being subjected 70 to lateralcompression. -Such lateral compression is however .limited by a uniqueAarrangement in that the journal cover made slightly smaller all than theopenings 25 in flanges 22,

plates 42 and 42 are 'from whichit resultsthat 75 channel, s

',f columns, means on the ,i engagement with the en ferred embodimentfora merous changes may and their assembly, usage, without "departure.1. Inan constituting a bearin and formed to'prov de'` an .openebottomjournal pockets 'journal-fior.theage.orgshaftfinsaid :shape-p cushion Li pocket, a substantiallyinverted'f element of resilient material,overlyingand latjo'urnal and locatedgin said pocket, .anda removableclosure for lthe bottom o peni'ngfof thejourna'l pocket, detachablycarried bythe bearing housing. p

2.[In 'a .bearin inverted channel constituting a body lfor the reVception of a. iournahav spacedinwardly of the ends to the sides ofthe ddepthwise'of the vcoactin'g` with the d -of a vmajor tren aid webmembers journal, the journal being formed to provide a pair of laterallypresented seats adapted to engage .the ends of the columns in responseto substantial loading onthe housing.

4. In a bearing assembly for a vehicle axle or a journal inthe housing,and resilient means arranged to cushion the al and the sides thereof,said' cushioning means including va. .pair of ournal forming seats fords of the columns, anda journal and in the housing, the bridge piecebeing of a depth such as vnormally to maintain the columns out ofcompressed engagement by said seats, but such that, upon compression ofthe bridge piece, said'seats will coact with the columns and the columnscoact with the bridge piece in providing a compressed cusnion for thejournal.

bridge piece above the l 5. roo-bearing assemmy fors shoftsuoh es' orjournal in limiting the It now apmounting isof the shaftxand angularlyofthe beendes'cribedby making a detailed reference-to a-presently pre;v

particular.- usage, i nul-- be madein the severalgparts aswellasinapplicationzandffrom?` the.v full ,intendedvv as'deilnedfby.'label-claims`- e f I claim: i axlebearlng assembly forAvehicles and the llkepanjinvertedg element-.fof channeliorm" ghousingfcentrally recessed1 g; assembly lfor a vvehiclev axle l or-thelike, a bearing housing in the form oranj just above the 35,

pair of web membersl of the body and arvehicle axle, a bearing housinghaving an openbottom, substantially rectangular pocket for a journal, adetachable bottom closure for the the pocket being partly open,

pocket, the sides of a journal in the pocket, a journal closure ele-"ment, and'a 'resilient' embrasure for the journal stresses.

6. In a bearing assembly for a shaft such as a vehicle axle, a bearinghousing vformed of sheet metal in channel form including a bridge pieceprovided with apertures for the reception of bolts securing the housingto a vehicle sill or the like, and a pair of spaced housing anges, apair of web elements bridging the anges, extending depthwise of thehousing, and serving, in a fore and aft direction to define a journalpocket, a journal in said pocket about the shaft or axle, a bottomclosure plate for the journal pocket bridgingly bolted to the lowerextremities of the housingflanges, an inverted U-shaped element formedof a rubber-like material and extending across the top and downwardlyalong the sides of the journal between the web portions ofthe housingand constituting a vertical, as well as a fore-and-aft cushionv aboutthe journal, said cushion having a plurality of recessed'portionsfacilitating distortion under compression and aiding in flow of therubber-like material constituting the cushion, under compressionstresses, a pair of projections formed on the journaland constitutingseats adapted to engage the ends of the U-shaped cushion member undercertain conditions of loading of the housing, and a rebound cushion orpad of a resilient rubber-like material overlying the closure plate toserve as Aa recoil pad beneath the journa1.

'7. In the bearing housing and shaft journal assembly, a journaldetachably and movably retained' in the housing, a resilient cushioningstructure comprised of a bridge and two columns,

at least partly surrounding the journal and conned by the housing, thebridge being of a depth, or dimension in a direction along the line ofloading, at least equalto the corresponding di- /mension of the spacetherefor within the housfor within the housing, whereby the columns areunder compression only under relatively heavier loads on the housing.

8. In a bearing housing and shaft journalrassembly, a journal detachablyassembled and ilpatingly retained in the housing,the housing and journalbeing shaped to provide chambered portions therein, a Vresilient memberfitted into one of said chambered portions so 'as to be relativelysnugly confined between the' journal and the housing in a directiondepthwise of the housing, whereby said resilient member is under amoderate compression under any appreciable loading of the housing, asecond resilient element disposed in another chambered portion betweenthe journal and housing, and loosely litted, depthwise of the last saidchambered portion, whereby, under moderate conditions of housingloading, the last said resilient element is not appreciably compressed,the last'said resilient element being shorter, in the direction ofloading on the housing, than the chambered portion which it occupies,whereby a somewhat heavier loading of the housing serves further to loadthe first said resilient element and thereafter oper-4 atescompressively to load the second said resilient element.

O'ITO H. BRAUER.

